Apparatus for storing earphones

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for storing earphones (“earphone holder”) configured for attachment to a person&#39;s clothing or accessorie(s). The apparatus includes a substantially flat main body; a first attachment member attached to the main body proximate a first end of the first attachment member and proximate a back end and first side of the main body, and extending substantially parallel to the main body providing a first space between the main body and the first attachment member; a second attachment member attached to the main body proximate a first end of the second attachment member and proximate a back end and second side of the main body, and extending substantially parallel to the main body providing a second space between the main body and the second attachment member; a first hump attached to the main body including a first aperture wherein the first hump is located proximate the back end of the main body; a second hump attached to the main body including a second aperture wherein the second hump is located proximate the back end of the main body; a first loop extending through the first aperture and configured for receiving an earphone through the first elastic loop; and a second loop extending through the second aperture and configured for receiving an earphone through the second elastic loop.

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a nonprovisional patent application which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/929,423 entitled “Apparatus for Storing Earphones” which was filed on Nov. 1, 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The field of the invention relates to storing devices for storing earphones.

BACKGROUND

Modern earphones—particularly wireless earphones such as AirPods™ brand earphones available from Apple, Inc.—are easily to misplace because of their small size. Although small, such devices can be expensive. What is needed, therefore, is a device that can easily store such earphones on a user's clothing or headwear to prevent loss of the earphones.

SUMMARY

The above and other needs are met by an apparatus for storing earphones comprising a substantially flat main body; a first attachment member attached to the main body proximate a first end of the first attachment member and proximate a back end and first side of the main body, and extending substantially parallel to the main body providing a first space between the main body and the first attachment member; a second attachment member attached to the main body proximate a first end of the second attachment member and a proximate a back end and second side of the main body, and extending substantially parallel to the main body providing a second space between the main body and the second attachment member; a first hump attached to the main body including a first aperture wherein the first hump is located proximate the back end of the main body; a second hump attached to the main body including a second aperture wherein the second hump is located proximate the back end of the main body; a first loop extending through the first aperture and configured for receiving an earphone through the first elastic loop; and a second loop extending through the second aperture and configured for receiving an earphone through the second elastic loop.

The apparatus may further include a first block in line with the first hump wherein the first block is located proximate a front end of the main body, and a second block in line with the second hump wherein the second block is located proximate a front end of the main body.

The apparatus may further include a first catch located proximate a second end of the first attachment member and facing toward the main body, and a second catch located proximate a second end of the second attachment member and facing toward the main body.

The summary provided herein is intended to provide examples of particular disclosed embodiments and is not intended to cover all potential embodiments or combinations of embodiments. Therefore, this summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention disclosure in any way, a function which is reserved for the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for storing earphones (an “earphone holder”);

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the earphone holder shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the earphone holder shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a front end view of the earphone holder shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 shows a back end view of the earphone holder shown in FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 shows a first side view of the earphone holder shown in FIGS. 1-5;

FIG. 7 shows a second side view of the earphone holder shown in FIGS. 1-6; and

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the earphone holder shown in FIGS. 1-7 attached to the side of a hat.

The figures are provided to illustrate concepts of the invention disclosure and are not intended to embody all potential embodiments of the invention. Therefore, the figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention disclosure in any way, a function which is reserved for the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-7 show different views of an apparatus for storing earphones or “earphone holder” 10 on a person's clothing or accessorie(s). FIG. 8 shows the earphone holder 10 attached the side of a hat. The earphone holder may be attached to various objects including but not limited to the side of a hat, the bill of a hat, the bottom or mid-edge of a shirt, or the edge of a pocket on a clothing item.

The earphone holder 10 includes a substantially flat main body 12. A first attachment member 14A is attached along a lower surface 15 of the main body 12 proximate a first end 16A of the first attachment member 14A and proximate a back end 18 and first side 20A of the main body 12, and extending substantially parallel to the main body 12 providing a first space 22A between the main body 12 and the first attachment member 14A. A second attachment member 14B is attached along the lower surface 15 of the main body 12 proximate a first end 16B of the second attachment member 14B and proximate the back end 18 and second side 20B of the main body 12, and extending substantially parallel to the main body 12 providing a second space 22B between the main body 12 and the second attachment member 14B. The spacing between the attachment members 14 and the main body 12 is such that the earphone holder 10 will fit tightly to a hat or other clothing item as shown, for example, in FIG. 8, with the first attachment member 14A and the second attachment member 14B on one side of the hat rim and the main body 12 on an opposite side of the hat rim.

The main body 12, first attachment member 14A, and second attachment member 14B are preferably formed as a single unit via polymer molding techniques known to persons having ordinary skill in the art. The main body 12, first attachment member 14A, and second attachment member 14B are preferably made of a polymer material such as a plastic, but they can be made of other materials as well such as, for example, rubber, metal or wood. Although only two attachment members 14 are shown and discussed, the earphone holder 10 may have one or more additional attachment members such as, for example, a third attachment member extending parallel to and between the first attachment member 14A and the second attachment member 14B.

As shown in FIGS. 1-7, a first hump 24A is attached along an upper surface 25 of the main body 12 wherein the first hump 24A includes a first aperture 26A wherein the first hump 24A is located proximate the back end 18 of the main body 12. A second hump 24B is attached along the upper surface 25 of the main body 12 wherein the second hump 24B includes a second aperture 26B wherein the second hump 24B is located proximate the back end 18 of the main body 12. The first hump 24A and the second hump 24B are preferably formed together with the main body 12, first attachment member 14A, and second attachment member 14B when the earphone holder 10 is manufactured and all of these components are preferably made of the same material.

A first loop 28A extends through the first aperture 26A and is configured for receiving an earphone through the first elastic loop 28A as shown in FIG. 8. A second loop 28B extends through the second aperture 26B and is configured for receiving an earphone through the second elastic loop 28B as shown in FIG. 8. The first loop 28A and the second loop 28B are preferably elastic or otherwise made of an elastic material such as, for example, rubber. In one nonlimiting example, the first loop 28A and the second loop 28B are made of a series of rubber cores that are bound or wrapped in polyester, cotton, nylon or a blend of fiber threads. The elasticity of the first loop 28A and second loop 28B allows for the loops 28 to fit around differently sized earphones.

The earphone holder 10 may further include a first block 30A in line with the first hump 24A wherein the first block 30A is located proximate a front end 32 of the main body 12, and a second block 30B in line with the second hump 24B wherein the second block 30B is located proximate the front end 32 of the main body 12. The first block 30A and the second block 30B are preferably formed together with the main body 12, first attachment member 14A, second attachment member 14B, first hump 24A and the second hump 24B when the earphone holder 10 is manufactured and all of these components are preferably made of the same material.

The earphone holder 10 may further include a first catch 34A located proximate a second end 36A of the first attachment member 14A and facing toward the main body 12, and a second catch 34B located proximate a second end 36B of the second attachment member 14B and facing toward the main body 12.

The earphone holder 10 is designed to be easily manufactured and to be attachable to many different objects. Whichever object is selected, a portion of the selected object extends into the first space 22A and the second space 22B. The first catch 34A and the second catch 34B help the earphone holder 10 maintain a grip on the selected object. However, the spacing alone between the attachment members 14 and the main body 12 is preferably sufficiently narrow so that there is a tight fit regardless of whether the first catch 34A and second catch 34B are present. One advantage of the earphone holder 10 described herein is that it can be easily and quickly disengaged with a first selected object and then engaged with a second selected object. A user can select where on his or her clothing or accessorie(s) that he or she would like to attach earphones for the maximum amount of convenience and/or comfort. Although wired earphones are shown in FIG. 8, the earphone holder 10 described herein is particularly useful for storing wireless earphones since they are much easier to misplace than wired earphones.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The described preferred embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the disclosure to the precise form(s) disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of the disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the concepts revealed in the disclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the disclosure as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for storing earphones comprising; a. a substantially flat main body; b. a first attachment member attached to the main body proximate a first end of the first attachment member and proximate a back end and first side of the main body, and extending substantially parallel to the main body providing a first space between the main body and the first attachment member; c. a second attachment member attached to the main body proximate a first end of the second attachment member and proximate a back end and second side of the main body, and extending substantially parallel to the main body providing a second space between the main body and the second attachment member; d. a first hump attached to the main body including a first aperture wherein the first hump is located proximate the back end of the main body; e. a second hump attached to the main body including a second aperture wherein the second hump is located proximate the back end of the main body; f. a first loop extending through the first aperture and configured for receiving an earphone through the first elastic loop; and g. a second loop extending through the second aperture and configured for receiving an earphone through the second elastic loop.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first block in line with the first hump wherein the first block is located proximate a front end of the main body, and a second block in line with the second hump wherein the second block is located proximate a front end of the main body.
 3. The apparatus of claim further comprising a first catch located proximate a second end of the first attachment member and facing toward the main body, and a second catch located proximate a second end of the second attachment member and facing toward the main body.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first loop and the second loop are made of an elastic material. 